February 15, 2006 from Mussoorie, India
The honeymoon is apparently over. Some new staff have arrived on the Woodstock School campus this new semester, and we are now "old India hands." We have been living in India for six months now, and some of the cultural differences that were different or amazing now grate on the nerves. The mass media poses India to become the next Superpower, and were you to view life in India simply from television commercials and sitcoms, you would think it much like America. However, the India we see every day has corruption and poverty, wide disparity between obvious classes, and casual value placed on honesty or quality of work. The local water and food have at times made us literally ill -- all four of us regularly succumb to digestive tract illnesses that also attack the spirit and make us wonder "What are we doing here?"
God was swift to answer that question. Borne out of a suggestion in the newsletter from our home church in New York, we decided to read the Gospel of Mark as a family. Chapter one retells the calling of the disciples -- simple everyday people like us -- who were called to give up comfort, family, their livelihoods and homes to follow Jesus. At the same time, we received a flurry of emails and cards of support and cheer, a care package, and news of contributions to the Thomas India Mission Fund. We also received evidence of renewed interest by PCUSA (our national denomination) in officially sponsoring our work here in India.
We are reminded that we came here called by God and sent by our brothers and sisters in Christ to use our talents to serve others. We are also reminded that we are human, prone to weakness and poor in spirit, and we cannot do this job alone. God's Word to us through the scriptures, and your support, correspondence and prayers mean more to us than you know.
Recent support is encouraging us to make our dreams of a ministry of hospitality a reality. We are in the process of purchasing an electronic keyboard, for music, and VHS and DVD players through which to show family movies and have discussions and share a meal with boarding students who visit our home. A Girl Scout troop led by a member of Briarcliff Congregational Church, is collecting used movies for that purpose. In an upcoming newsletter we will include photos and a report of our progress.
This month we ask specifically for prayers for health and good spirits for the work we are here to do. Barb was hit especially hard by illness and was left with a fear of eating fresh foods and local water. She needs to be fit physically and emotionally for the demands of the job and the family. We also would solicit your prayers for a good semester for Chris and Cole, who were challenged last semester and will need to work harder (and smarter). As Jeff begins his new position as Academic Technology Coordinator, we ask for wisdom in working with all levels of the school community.
During this holiday time when we celebrate love, it seems especially appropriate to be thankful for God's boundless love and the agape love we share with our family and friends. Special thanks to Doris Kersten who has agreed to be our liason with PPC and other supporting churches and friends. Namaste and love from the Thomases,
--Barbara, Jeffrey, Chris and Coleman
Woodstock School, Mussoorie UA 248179 India